PB2705: PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT AMONG HEMATOLOGISTS AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS
Authors: Olga Aleshina (Gavrilina), Tatiana Nikitina, Tatyana Ionova
Journal: HemaSphere (2023)

Topic: 36. Ethics and health economics Background: Hematologists are considered to be an extremely vulnerable group of medical specialists, more susceptible to emotional exhaustion, professional burnout (PB) and quality of life (QoL) deterioration. The realities of the hematological care after outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in a multifold increase in physicians’ distress. There is an urgent need to understand and address the healthcare and personal factors that contribute to PB in hematologists after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: We aimed to study the prevalence of PB among hematologists and to identify associated factors, including socio-demographic and professional ones as well as physician’s QoL and anxiety/ depression levels. Methods: The study was carried out between August to October, 2022, with the online questionnaire method with the participation of hematologists working in tertiary and municipal hospitals across the country. In the survey, the sociodemographic and professional characteristics, attitude to COVID-19 were questioned, as well as Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), WHOQOL-BREF and HADS, respectively, were applied for PB, QoL and anxiety/depression assessment. Emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA) were analyzed to measure PB. Statistical analysis included pairwise comparisons, χ2 and regression analyses. Results: The survey involved 89 hematologists: 78.7% were females; mean age – 38.7 years (SD = 10.5); 44.9% worked in tertiary hospitals and 55.1% in municipal ones; median duration of professional experience – 10 years; 96.6% worked full-time; 41.6% worked frontline in COVID-19 units during the pandemic. According to marital status the distribution was as follows: 55.1% were married, 29.2% – single, 11.2% – separated, 4.5% – widowed. Among participating physicians 30.3% mentioned that they experienced significantly increased workload during pandemic. PB was present in 73.5% hematologists; in 21.8% its level was high (high levels of EE, DP and low level of PA). The level EE was lower in married respondents as compared to those who were single/separated/widowed (24.9 vs 28.9, p=0.038). The prevalence of PB was similar across hematologists working in tertiary and municipal hospitals: there were no differences in the levels of EE, DP and PA (p>0.05). The prevalence of PB was similar among those working and not working frontline during COVID-19 pandemic (χ2, p>0.05). Across different sociodemographic and professional variables, QoL domains and anxiety/depression levels, only dissatisfaction with personal protection equipment (OR=30.995, p=0.005), elevated levels of anxiety (ОR=1.925, p=0.002) and depression (ОR=2.022, p=0.002) were associated with increased probability of PB (Nagelkerke R2 =0.723, p<0.001). Summary/Conclusion: PB after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was present in the majority (73.5%) of hematologists. It was equally present in those who worked frontline in COVID-19 units and those who treated patients in hematological departments on a regular basis. Its prevalence was similar across hematologists working in tertiary and municipal hospitals. Independent predictors of PB include elevated psychological burden and dissatisfaction with personal protection equipment. The results obtained may be used to develop practical recommendations for the prevention of PB and psychological distress among hematologists. Keywords: Depression, Quality of life, COVID-19